The bike is an aluminium framed MTB with suspension (rather than a roadie-courier bike that usually gets subjected to such treatment).

Can you use puncture repair glue or does it have to be 'gaffer tape'?

Any tips will be most appreciated on how to do this effectively.

Edit:

As for the why question: there are various reasons why people would want to do this - to protect the bike from railings being one, to make it less attractive to thieves is my concern, making it look 'individual' is another reason to do it.

I was really hoping that someone here has had a go and might want to share what they learned from doing so.

Question mark for me too. Extra tubes? Easier to carry in a pack. Frame protection? I don't want to ride where you do...
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M. WernerSep 18 '11 at 15:16

I'm surprised people are asking what's the point of this. Even the manufacturers themselves put frame protectors over chainstays for chainslap, but the thin tape is rarely sufficient. When navigating through tight rock sections, it's easy to smash your BB/down tube. I've even seen people wrap their entire frame/forks in helicopter tape.
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cmannett85Sep 18 '11 at 17:57

1

For the few bikes where chainslap is an actual possibility, it is good to have something cover the chainstay. However wrapping a frame in inner tubes is pointless: 1) it looks brutally ugly (and no, thieves don't care anyway). 2) UV radiation from the sun will make the inner tubes a sticky mess and cause them to fall apart in short order.
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AngeloSep 19 '11 at 14:31

@Angelo - I really don't care what my bike looks like - not the one I'm considering wrapping - but the tubes melting onto the frame could be a show-stopper for me. What would you suggest using instead of tubes? Helicopter tape, as cbamber85 mentioned? (I'd think that would have many of the same problems, as there's an adhesive involved.)
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Neil FeinSep 19 '11 at 14:38

I agree with the use of zip ties. They hold up well and makes the tube available for trailside repairs. Such as an emergency patch for a blown out side wall,a bungee cord replacement or just as rope to tie something on that fell off.